10 Best Songs About Water

Feature Photo: Adam McCullough / Shutterstock.com

Our 10 Best Songs About Water list features songs that use the word “water” in many ways, from far-reaching metaphors to songs about water itself. This one is wide open, since there are just so many songs we could choose for this list. We tried to mix it up a bit.

# 10 – Rock Me On The Water

That voice gets me every time. I have never heard another singer sound like Linda Ronstadt. This one goes all the way back to her debut solo album after her turn with the Stone Ponys. Jackson Browne composed this spectacular song.

# 9 – Allergic To Water – Ani DiFranco

If there ever was an artist who did it her own way, and answered to no one, no record company telling her what to record, or what to look like, or any other nonsense, it’s Ani DiFranco. She is as real as it gets.

# 8 – Cold Water – Tom Waits

Tom Waits presents his listeners with a fun sing-along surrounded by darkness, despair, humor, and a nice set of kitchen tools. This one was released on what may be the best album of his career, Mule Variations. This is a great one.

# 7 – The Water Is Wide – Karla Bonoff

Some songs live on forever. This one is over 120 years old. The wonderful songwriter Karla Bonoff recorded her version on the album Restless Nights. The record was released in 1979.

# 6 – Surfin’ Safari – The Beach Boys

We couldn’t compose a list of songs about water without including at least one Beach Boys song. This recording and song are probably older than you think. This was released back in 1962, before the Beatles arrived. The song was a top-20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

# 5 – The Tide Is High – Blondie

Well, while we are on the topic of the beach, why not include Blondie in these conversations? Although was she really talking about the beach? The video is a little dated, but that’s what makes it a fun watch.

# 4 – Cool Water – Joni Mitchell

This one is simply sensational. Joni Mitchell’s “Cool Water” was released on her album Chalk Mark in a Rain Storm in 1988. The track also features Willie Nelson on vocals with Joni.

Both the live and studio versions of this song by The Who have appeared on various Who albums. From Odds And Sods to Live at The Isle Of Wight to the b-side of “5:15,” this is one that just kept popping up.

# 2 – Madman Across The Water – Elton John and Bernie Taupin

Hands down, Bernie Taupin stands as one of the greatest lyricists of all time. Elton John’s ability to take Bernie’s lyrics and turn them into a body of musical work that is almost unmatched in classic rock history has brought so much joy to this world. The Madman Across The Water album is a masterpiece fueled by this iconic title track.

# 1 – The Ocean – Led Zeppelin

This one was easy to put in the number one spot. Led Zeppelin’s ” The Ocean ” was released on the great Houses of the Holy album. If you ever wanted to define the meaning of the word ‘classic rock riff” to anyone, just play them this song. Tell me you don’t love that vocal opening by Bonham, “We’ve done four already, and now we’re steady” BAM

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